Should I switch to Windows 7?

I'm planning on taking one of my kids' computers, making a full backup (they're on XP), and "sacrificing" one for Windows 7 RC, to see if it's any good. (We'll play with it a bit, let the kids play with it, too, and then probably restore XP.)

I wouldn't run and install Windows 7 yet or any NEW software release. New software has many bugs - especially software as complicated as Windows. Yes- as they come across the bugs they release updates- but until those updates and patches are released your computer may be dead in the water. Hold on on Windows 7 for a while until it has been tweaked!

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I've been using the RC Windows 7 for a few weeks. It's very good and an improvement to Vista, (though I actually liked Vista and found that many who criticised it did so through what they heard third hand and had never used it themselves). Windows & loads reasonably quickly, and I am trying both 32 and 64 bit versions. I've purchased advance pre-release copies which i will get in October. Both systems I'm using are extremely stable and the update, especially searching for drivers, etc, is really first class. 'All aboard' is my advice.

Looking at the comparison table for Windows 7, I see that the Home version does not have a Windows XP compatibility mode and won't support Windows Virtual PC. For most people who use a computer for more than e-mail and internet, this will mean buying the Professional version since there is a lot of software out there which won't have Win 7 versions by the release date. This must be Microsoft's biggest sting yet.

win 7 is supposed to be 100% compatible with vista, even drivers, and in almost all cases, it is.

I've been using Windows7 since last year, and it is the best operating system I have ever seen. Everything just works! Not looking forward to paying for it in March, though.

I've been using Windows 7 RC for a while and can tell you it's night and day compared to Vista (which you couldn't pay me to own). Yes, it's based on Vista, but you are able to turn off the annoyances that people despise with Vista. Before paying for Windows 7, though, I would check with Microsoft and Acer because many newer computers can be upgraded to Windows 7 for free. Almost all manufacturers are offering this free upgrade, including Acer, Lenovo and HP. I'd check to see if this offer is retroactive. And yes, you can download the RC from Microsoft Download Center, which will work until 3/10 (then it will shut off every few hours. The only problem I've found so far is that my Sound Blaster Live! card is not compatible, but the graphics and Windows Media Player 12 are mind-blowing! The 'fix' for Vista doesn't work in Windows 7. Good Luck.

I have used Windows 7 RC on more than one PC and it is a delight to use. I have Vista HP running on two PCs and that is also a delight to use. The difference is not "night and day" as Dave Markley puts it. Windows 7 is not Vista done right, but Vista with a few changes (improvements?) Don't hang about - when it arrives go and get it!

I've been using Windows 7 ever since it went from Beta to RC. Going straight from XP Pro to W7, All I can say is WOW. Like anth11 says, it just works! If there's a problem, the Action Center notifies you, provides trouble shooting options,& with a click or two, practically fixes itself. I installed it on a extra HD & now it's all I use. Will definatly install on all my machines in Oct.

There is no point NOT getting software until a couple of months after it comes out simply to let the patches and fixes come out. The more people that use the software, the quicker things are fixed. Also, W7 is the first OS from Microsoft to have both public Beta and RC which means that it is alot more stable than previous Windows OS's.

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